Imagine running an organization whose operations are scattered among more than 350 sites — and the leaders of the organization have no idea what the capital needs are at each of those sites.

That’s the situation the Archdiocese of Chicago is trying to remedy with a survey that administrators say will give the archdiocese a more accurate picture of what its financial situation is, where it wants to go and how to get there.

All pastors and principals were asked to respond to a survey from O’Meara, Ferguson, Whelan and Conway, a financial consulting firm that specializes in helping dioceses develop and implement resource management plans.

The survey asks each parish or school to report not only on the assets they have, but also on the estimated cost of any deferred maintenance or necessary repair projects as well as on what projects they would like to take on …